Cover The people behind the Stellar Fashion Gala, starring Davao's couture, culture and craft (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
The people behind the Stellar Fashion Gala, starring Davao's couture, culture and craft (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
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A celebration of Davao’s bold fashion spirit and indigenous craftsmanship, The Stellar Fashion Gala brought together haute couture and heritage
On a warm evening, stirred by the gentle sea breeze, the stars aligned on Samal Island in Davao del Norte—located in the southern part of the Philippines. The air seemed crispier, the leaves greener and somehow more alive, and a stellar event was taking place.
The Stellar Fashion Gala took place in the luxurious confines of the newly opened Samal Grand Ballroom at the Discovery Samal Resort. It was an evening where high fashion intertwined with high ideals, and the catwalk shimmered with not just couture but also the hopes of Davao’s weaving communities.
If you’re familiar with the Davao Region, you’ll know it’s a world away from the fast-paced, monochromatic uniformity of the capital Manila. It’s where everything is greener and vibrant—as if the colours soaked into the landscape and, by extension, into the fabric of the province’s style. And when Davao does couture, it does it with fearless boldness.
While Manila is content with its minimalist blacks and whites and the occasional grey and beige, this province likes to stir the pot—mixing vibrant colours, clashing textures and celebrating the unexpected.
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Above Discovery Samal's Grand Ballroom (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Discovery Samal's Grand Ballroom (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
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As people start to pour into the foyer of the Samal Grand Ballroom, it’s as if the fashion show is already being held there. Guests wore bright colours mixed with linen, satin and ruched fabrics made from local tropical fibres—no muted palettes in sight.
The ballroom, filled with 1,200 fashion-forward souls, buzzed with anticipation as the luxe resort collection took centre stage. The 100-piece collection was a celebration of Indigenous fabrics, each garment a ballad to the natural world, handcrafted from fibres like abaca, piña, banana and “kawayarn” or bamboo textiles. Davao’s top designers, like Aztec Barba, Emi Englis, Edgar Buyan, and Popoy Barba, turned these raw, earthy materials into wearable art, proving once and for all that sustainability and style are not mutually exclusive.
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Above Outfit by Popoy Barba (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Above Ensemble by Benjie Paniza (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Outfit by Popoy Barba (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
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Where else would you see these bold, tropical fibres reimagined as high-fashion silhouettes? Davaoeño designers aren’t afraid to push boundaries, mixing heritage with couture that feel fresh and unexpected.
Aztec Barba’s pieces, for instance, had this organic fluidity coupled with elegance of black, grey and hints of white, while Edgar Buyan’s ethereal creations featured intricate details that somehow made these local tropical fibres look opulent.
Dodji Batu’s avant-garde creations danced between structured drama and fantasy, while Emi Englis sent vibrant, almost rebellious pieces down the runway. Windel Mira meanwhile played with texture in a way that felt like wearing the island breeze itself but in an edgier way.
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Above Ensemble by Dodjie Batu (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Above Ensemble by Emi Englis (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Ensemble by Dodjie Batu (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
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Above Dress by Windel Mira (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Above Dress by Aztec Barba (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
Dress by Windel Mira (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
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But behind the audacious designs and the catwalk glam, there was a deeper purpose. The gala wasn’t just a fashion event—it was a platform for something bigger—a fundraiser for the b.LOOM Project, an initiative by the Davao Fashion and Design Council Foundation Inc (DFDCFI). More than just a nod to tradition, the b.LOOM Project reimagines the loom as a tool for the future, realigning the Davao weaving identity to meet the modern demand for both style and sustainability.
Proceeds from the gala were earmarked for the Sustainable Enterprise Program, a cornerstone of the b.LOOM Project, which supports indigenous and emerging weavers in Davao’s creative communities. With the help of the Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation Inc (MTEFI), these weavers are empowered to thrive, ensuring that their crafts don’t just survive but flourish in an increasingly modern world.
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Above L-R: Aztec Barba, Emi Englis, Windel Mira, Benjie Panizales, Beatrice Gonzalez-Magallanes, Popoy Barba, Egay Ayag, Edgar Buyan, Dodjie Batu (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
L-R: Aztec Barba, Emi Englis, Windel Mira, Benjie Panizales, Beatrice Gonzalez-Magallanes, Popoy Barba, Egay Ayag, Edgar Buyan, Dodjie Batu (Photo: Courtesy of Discovery Samal)
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As Beatrice Gonzalez-Magallanes, the president of Discovery Samal, reflected on the night, she captured the spirit of the event: “We’re in awe of the creativity and proudly Davaeño spirit displayed at The Stellar Fashion Gala. We look forward to welcoming more fantastic events with a priceless view of the Davao Gulf at Discovery Samal.”
In the end, The Stellar Fashion Gala was more than just a fundraiser or a showcase of haute couture. It was a vivid reminder of how fashion can be a vehicle for change—how, through the threads of tradition, we can weave a future that is as sustainable as it is stylish.
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Syrah is Tatler Philippines’ Power & Purpose editor, where she spotlights extraordinary journeys shaping the Philippines and Asia. She covers business, innovation, impact, and culture—chasing the people, ideas and forces shaping how we live and think today.
